Calla lily plant named ‘Airbrush’

ABSTRACT

‘Airbrush’ is a new variety of calla lily having inflorescences with a white/purple-colored spathe that produces 4-28 inflorescences per tuber. The inflorescence stems are about 28-57 cm in height, and the leaves are green and have a leathery texture.

Botanical classification: Zantedeschia sprengeri.

Varietal denomination: ‘AIRBRUSH’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of calla lily, botanically known as Zantedeschia sprengeri and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Airbrush’.

‘Airbrush’ is a product of a planned breeding program which had the objective of creating Zantedeschia hybrids for pot flower production in a wide range of colors with a large, classic flower shape. The breeding program began in 1989, and the new cultivar is a seedling selected from the crossing of a Zantedeschia sprengeri selection referred to as Z040752 (female parent, unpatented) with a Zantedeschia sprengeri selection referred to as Z040832 (male parent, unpatented). ‘Airbrush’ was selected in 2011 by the inventor in 't Zand, The Netherlands as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Airbrush’ by tissue culture was performed by the inventor in September of 2011 in 't Zand, The Netherlands. Subsequent asexual reproductions by tissue culture at the same location have demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are retained and reproduced true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in 14 cm pots at 12-14 weeks after planting in 't Zand, The Netherlands under greenhouse conditions, which approximate those generally used in horticultural practice. Color references are made to The 2001 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used.

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined to be basic characteristics of ‘Airbrush’ which, in combination, distinguish this calla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. White/purple-colored spathes;     -   2. Lanceolate-shaped leaves; and     -   3. High inflorescence production.

Further, when compared to calla lily plant named ‘Picasso’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,282), the upper and lower surface base color of the spathe of ‘Picasso’ is listed as Green-Yellow Group RHS 1D, with the spathe having a secondary color between Purple Group RHS 76A and Red-Purple Group RHS 74B. Whereas, the upper surface base color of the spathe of ‘Airbrush’ varies between White Group RHS 155A and 155B and the lower surface base color of the spathe of ‘Airbrush’ is White Group RHS 155A. Further, the upper and lower surface secondary spathe color of ‘Airbrush’ varies between Purple Group RHS 79A and 79C.

Table 1 provides differences of ‘Airbrush’ to its parents, Zantedeschia sprengeri selections Z040752 and Z040832.

TABLE 1 ‘Airbrush’ Differences Z040752 Spathe color Base color is Green-White Group 157A, the secondary color varies between Purple Group RHS 79C and 79D Plant height 30-50 cm Z040832 Spathe color Varies between Red-Purple Group RHS 60D and 61C Plant height 35-45 cm

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety at 12-14 weeks after planting, with the colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of an overhead view of the new variety;

FIG. 2 is a photograph of a close-up view of the new variety; and

FIG. 3 is a photograph of a side view of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT The Plant

-   Size:     -   -   Height of the leaf canopy above the soil.—36-54 cm.         -   Height of top of inflorescence above the soil.—28-57 cm.         -   Diameter.—30-45 cm. -   Form: Erect. -   Number of inflorescences per tuber:     -   -   Size 14-16 cm in diameter.—4-6 inflorescences.         -   Size 16-18 cm in diameter.—6-10 inflorescences.         -   Size 18-20 cm in diameter.—15-25 inflorescences.         -   Size 20-22 cm in diameter.—18-28 inflorescences. -   Branches:     -   -   Number.—From 3-7.         -   Color.—Between Green Group RHS 143A and Yellow-Green Group             144A, with spots of Red Group RHS 53A. -   Leaves:     -   -   Size.—Width: 2-12 cm. Length: 22-30 cm.         -   Number per plant.—17-29.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Color: Upper surface: Between Green Group RHS 137A to 137B.             Lower surface: Between Green Group RHS 137A to Yellow-Green             Group RHS 146A.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Undulate; having a color of Green Group RHS 137A to             137B.         -   Veins.—Configuration: Pinnate. Color: Green Group RHS 137A.             Surface quality: Leathery.         -   Petiole.—Length: 14-24 cm. Average diameter: 9-14 mm. Color:             The base is White Group RHS 155A and the upper part is Green             Group RHS 143A to Yellow-Green Group 144A. -   Roots:     -   -   Color.—White.         -   Branching—Similar to other Zantedeschia varieties.

The Inflorescence and Seeds

-   Spathe:     -   -   Size.—Length (measured from base opening to tip): 5.5-8 cm.             Width: 4-5.5 cm. Height: 7-12 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface: The base color varies between White             Group RHS 155A and 155B, and the secondary color varies             between Purple Group RHS 79A and 79C. Lower surface: The             base color is White Group RHS 155A, and the secondary color             varies between Purple Group RHS 79A and 79C.         -   Vein color.—Varies between between Purple Group RHS 79A and             79B.         -   Shape.—Cupped.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Texture.—Smooth (upper and lower surfaces). -   Spadix:     -   -   Size.—Length: 29-36 mm. Diameter: 5-6 mm.         -   Color.—Between Yellow Group RHS 5A and 9A.         -   Position relative to spathe.—Upright. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Size.—Length: 21-45 cm. Diameter: 4-10 mm.         -   Color.—The upper part is Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A, and             the lower part is Green-White Group RHS 157C.         -   Texture.—Smooth. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Location of female organs.—Basal position of the spadix.         -   Location of male organs.—Upper position of the spadix.         -   Perianth.—Conspicuous.         -   Stamens.—Presence: Not visible before pollen release.             Number: More than 20. Pollen amount: Abundant and similar to             ‘Picasso’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,282), but not quantifiable             due to minute pollen size. Color: Between White Group RHS             155A and 155B.         -   Anther.—Shape: Round. Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between             Yellow Group RHS 5A and 9A.         -   Filament.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between White Group             RHS 155A and 155B.         -   Pistil.—Number: 15 to 30. Length beyond perianth: About 1             mm.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Round. Size: Less than 1 mm.         -   Style.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between Yellow-Green             Group RHS 154C and 154D.         -   Ovaries.—Texture: Smooth. Length: Between 1 to 10 mm. Width:             Between 1 to 10 mm. Color: Top color is between Yellow-Green             Group RHS 154B and 154C, the bottom color is from White             Group RHS 155B to Green-White Group RHS 157C. -   Seeds:     -   -   Length.—4-7 mm.         -   Width.—3-6 mm.         -   Color.—Between Yellow-Green Group RHS 150A and 151A.         -   Amount.—Between 1-60.

General

-   Disease resistance: No unusual susceptibility to diseases noticed to     date. -   Pest resistance: No unusual susceptibility to pests noticed to date. -   Heat tolerance: No heat tolerance. -   Hardiness: Not hardy. -   Flowering: Tubers planted in a greenhouse in The Netherlands in     February produce inflorescences in April. Tubers planted outdoors in     The Netherlands in May produce inflorescences in July. In general,     the time from planting to first flowering takes eight weeks.     However, tubers stored for a longer period before planting may     flower earlier—up to five weeks after planting. -   Lastingness: About two weeks on the plant. -   Fragrance: None. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct calla lily plant named ‘Airbrush’ as herein described and illustrated. 